Ben Whittaker has shared his thoughts on David Morrell’s upset loss to Zak Chelli, comparing the result to one of the biggest shocks imaginable in sport.
“Yeah, it was like Panama beating England or something in the World Cup.
“It wasn’t supposed to happen, and I think Morrell knew it wasn’t supposed to happen. He probably just showed up thinking it was going to be a bit of light work. I got caught with a really silly shot and that’s boxing for you,” Whittaker said when discussing the loss during an interview with Ring Magazine.
Morrell entered the May 9 bout as a heavy favorite, but suffered a 10th-round stoppage loss to Chelli in one of the biggest upsets of 2026. Few observers predicted that Chelli would emerge victorious against the highly-rated Cuban contender.
While Whittaker was critical of Morrell’s approach, he stopped short of dismissing the Cuban’s future chances. Instead, the British light heavyweight suggested the result was a case of Morrell underestimating his opponent rather than a sign his career had gone permanently off course.
“But if they bring it back, I don’t think it will be the same. I think he’ll show up and do the job on him,” Whittaker said.
Whittaker is currently preparing for his June 27 bout against Peter “Popeye” Dosenovic in Brooklyn, New York, which will be his first professional fight in the United States. The undefeated British light heavyweight has continued to climb the rankings and has recently been linked to several notable domestic bouts, including a potential showdown with Anthony Yarde.
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Last updated on 06/09/2026 at 02:17
